Research Foundations and Public Policy

We strive to shape the future of K–12 student assessment through research and innovation, and are committed to bringing new opportunities to the changing world of education.

Highlights

Highlights of recent research initiatives and pilot programs demonstrate how we are preparing assessment and measurement systems for the future include:

Reading for Understanding Initiative

A 5-year effort sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences at the U.S. Department of Education, this program seeks to improve reading comprehension through intervention and assessment.

Learning progressions

This research consists of frameworks for assessment that can help teachers better understand what students know and how to move them to the next competency level.

The CBAL® Initiative

This long-term research and development project called Cognitively Based Assessments of, for and as Learning (CBAL^®) is a comprehensively developed model for assessment at the K–12 level that measures teaching and learning.

The Road Ahead for State Assessment

This policy document (PDF) examines the impact of, and the progress in, K–12 student assessment. It also offers insight into emerging options since the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act.

Game-based assessments

ETS researchers explain how game mechanics and assessment design are integrated to measure more complex and contextualized student skills.

Collaborative problem-solving

Our scientists investigate assessments measuring how students collaborate with others to solve complex tasks. See how developing collaborative assessments moves us toward better assessment of Next Generation Science Standards.

Pioneering insights to improve teaching and learning

We help teachers, administrators and policymakers improve their decisions for students through a focused and sustained program of research that is intended to:

Close the achievement gap — ETS is committed to closing the achievement gap through rigorous research that supports practical tools for real-life solutions.
Create access for students with disabilities (PDF) — Our research examines ways we can improve fairness and validity of assessments for students with disabilities.
Support English-language learners — We work with educators, policymakers and other experts to develop ways to advance education for K–12 English learners.